What is pterophyllum scalare?
Angelfish, (scientific name: Pterophyllum scalare), also known as swallow fish, angelfish, small angelfish, small fin sailfish, etc., cichlid, angelfish, native to Guyana and Brazil in South America.
The dorsal and anal fins of the angelfish are very long and large, as tall and straight as a jib, so they are called small-fin sailfish. Viewed from the side, the angelfish swims like a swallow soaring, so the angelfish is also called swallow fish.
What does pterophyllum scalare look like?
Angelfish are 12 to 15 cm long and 15 to 20 cm high. Generally, the adult fish is 12 to 18 cm long. The average lifespan is around 5 years. The head is small and the pointed body is flat and rhombus-shaped. The dorsal and anal fins are very long and straight like a jib, so they are called small-fin sailfish. Viewed from the side, the angelfish swims like a swallow soaring. The angelfish has a flat side and a diamond-shaped body, like a swallow flying in the water, so it is also called “swallow fish” in northern China.
Habits of pterophyllum scalare
Suitable water temperature: 26～32℃.
Water quality requirements: total hardness (gH): 3 ~ 6dGH, pH (pH): 6.5 ~ 7.0
Angelfish are territorial, and have no special requirements for water quality. It is best not to mix with small fish. What needs to be paid attention to is the tiger skin fish of the carp family. This naughty and lively small fish often likes to bite the angelfish. Although the anal and caudal fins are not fatal attacks, in order to maintain the beautiful shape of the angelfish, try to avoid mixing the angelfish with them.
pterophyllum scalare rearing
The feeding water temperature of angelfish is generally controlled between 24 and 28°C. Within this temperature range, angelfish have a strong appetite and grow rapidly. It is not affected by changes in outside temperature and is always maintained in a relatively stable state. The bait for angelfish includes fish and worms, water earthworms, fiber worms, mealworms, small live fish, and pellet feeds. There are many varieties of angelfish and their sizes vary greatly, so the choice of bait for different varieties of angelfish is also different. For angelfish with a body length of 3 to 12 cm, the bait is mainly tortoise worms, supplemented by water earthworms, red worms, and Tenebrio molitor. For angelfish with a body length of more than 12 cm, the turtle worm is small in size and has poor palatability. The bait with a slightly larger size should be selected, mainly including red worms, water earthworms, yellow mealworms, and small live fish. Most of the angelfish are mainly based on animal bait, and small species can also be domesticated to give priority to pellet feed, while few fish mainly rely on plant bait.
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